Automatically operated protective system for covering ground areas



July 30, 1963 F. E. BURT AUTOMATICALLY OPE 3,099,444 RATED PROTECTIVE SYSTEM FOR covERING GROUND AREAS 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Oct. 4, 1960 INVENTOR FQED .Ef Blf/RT BYgMj/,Mwjf

"Wav v ATTORNEY) July 30, 1963 F. E. BURT 3,099,444

AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED PROTECTIVE SYSTEM FOR covERING GROUND AREAS Filed oet. 4, 19Go 3 sheets-sheet 2 .www

.PED E BURT ATTORNEY] July 30, 1963 F. E. BURT 3,099,444

AUTOMATTCALLY oPERATED PROTECTIVE SYSTEM RoR covERTNG GROUND AREAS Filed oct. 4, 1960 s sheets-sheet s 1N VENTOR FRED .Ef BURT BY@ ,g www ATTORNEY! United States Patent O 3,099,444 AUTOMATICALLY OIERATED PROTECTIVE SYS- TEM F R COVERING GROUND AREAS Fred E. Burt, 82.3 13th St., Alexandria, La. Filed 06f. 4, 1960, Ser. No. 60,417 6 Claims. (ci. 27s- 27) This invention relates to improvements in automatically operated protective ground covers for field areas.

It is a primary purpose of this invention to provide a ground cover for protecting iield areas such as baseball inields, recreation areas, football fields, .and other ground areas, which is `automatic in operation in that rain water, snow or moisture may be made to serve the purpose of automatically setting desired electrical circuits into operation for the purpose of quickly covering a ground area and thus protecting the same; the invention :also comprehending an automatic retraction 'of the cover as soon las the rain or snow ceases to fall.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a fully automatic ground protective cover which can be extended in protective relation over a ground area or retracted therefrom automatically; the parts being so constructed and arranged that no part of the same upon retraction of the cover will obstruct occupancy of the protected area and also adjacent areas.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a practical and easily operated mechanism for the automatic extension and retraction of `a protective ground area cover, without manual assistance.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

`In the accompanying drawings:

FIGURE 1 is -a plan view iof the improved automatically operated protective ground cover showing the cover in extended relation over the diamond of a baseball field area.

FIGURE 2 is a view of the details shown in FIG. 1, with the cover retracted and all the controls which operate the cover retracted into an out 'of the way position; certain dotted lines showing the position of the controls in semi-retrieved positions.

FIGURE 3 is a cross sectional view taken substantially in the line 3--3 of FIG. l showing the manner in which a cover reel may be located in an out lof the way relation, such as beneath la grandstand, and further showing the way in which the cover may be extended over the desired ground .area to be protected.

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view showing certain details of the reel and its electrical circuit controlling features.

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of the wiring, switch and motor controlling features of the invention, showing the position of parts as they appear when the system it at rest with the cover retracted from the area 1to be protected.

`FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view showing certain cables used in operating land controlling the cover.

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional View taken substantially on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary view showing certain details of the cover and its supporting carriage.

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation of `a liquid or moisture collecting box adapted to receive rain Water or snow for the actuation of :a float switch in order to operate the control circuits.

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing certain internal details of the collector of FIG. 9. l

FIGURE 11 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 11-11 of FIG. l2, and showing guide roller means for the cover operating cables.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary plan view of certain 3,099,444 Patented July 30, 1963 ice opera-ting cables and their guide means including a vieW of a switch adapted to control certain cable manipulating circuits.

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing certain switch contact means on the cover reel.

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the manner in which the cables are stored in an out-of-the- Way position during retraction of the cover.

FIGURE l5 is a view, partly in section, taken onthe line 15-15 of FIG. 12.

FIGURE 16 is a partly sectional view taken substantially on the line 16-16 of FIG. 4, showing a slip ring forming part of the controlling circuits for the cover reel.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose Iof illustration is lshown only a preferred embodiment of the invention, the letter A may generally designate the improved automatically operated protecting ground cover system. It may include a flexible cover or tarpaulin B adapted to be wound and unwound with respect to a reel C. A main cable motor M1 is provided to serve the purpose of unreeling the cover B from the reel C. The motor M2 is adapted to `operate thereel for the purpose of retracting the cover from the protected ground area. Motors M3 .and M4 are cable retriever motors adapted to manipulate the cover `or tarpaulin main cable. D may refer to the general circuit, and E to the water collectors and switch means for setting the circuits in operation.

The cover B is flexible Vand may be fabricated of rubber, rubber like material or impermeable plastic. lIt may be of any desired size, within practical limits, and if desired a plurality of these covers B may be placed throughout the varea to be protected; manipulated by .their own individual Control systems.

The reel C is a roller provided with a shaft 20, shown in FIG. 4, connected therewith; the latter being rotatably supported upon suitable standards 21 within an underground housing structure 23 providing a chamber 24 having a protective cover 25. Usually the housing 24 will be located beneath =a grandstand structure 26, as shown in FIG. 3, so that the entire device may be positioned in an yout-of-the-way location.

The cover B has a front rigid bridle rod 27 which at each of its ends beyond the side margins of the cover B is provided with a rotatable wheel 28 bearing thereon in any `suitable manner, and which is adapted for ground contact as shown in FIG. 8, as the cover B is being extended `or retracted in order to hold the cover off the ground, or at least at such elevation as Ato space it above the bases of the baseball infield, shown at 30 in FIG. 8. Furthermore, the cover B is provided with a rear rigid bridle rod 31 connected thereto, which has connected therewith iiexible cables 32 of electrically conductive material; the latter being secured as at 33 to the reel C, as shown in FIG. 13. These conductor cables 32 wind Aspirally upon the reel C upon retraction of the cover B. A plurality of electrical contacts 34 forming part of the electric circuit D are fixed in insulated positions upon the reel, .and connected by a lead wire 35. When the cover B is extended fully as shown in FIG. l, the cables 32, which are grounded on the reel C, are Kout of engagement with their respective contacts 34. However, as the rewind moto-r M2 operates the reel C, the conductor cables 32 will be spirally Wound on the said reel, as is shown in FIG. 4 until ultimately they will engage the respective contacts 34 for circuit closing purposes.

The cover B has its bridle rod 27 connected midway of its ends with a main pull out cable 4t) which is attached to the bridle rod by cable lines 4l. This main cable 40 at the opposite side of the recreational area or playing field is `adapted to be wound upon a winch or drum 42 operated by means of a motor M1; the latter being connected to the drum by means of .a reduction gear arrangement 43.

This reduction gearing and the reduction gear arrangements` of themotors M2, M3 and M4 act as drag brakes upon the drums during cable retraction. Each of the motors M1, M2, M3 and M4 is respectively provided with conventional starter boxes 43a, 44, 45, and 46a in order to facilitate motor operation with but a small quantity of water in the collectors E. The motor Ml winds the main cable 40 on the winch or drum 42 to pull out the cover B to the position shown in FIG. 1.

The motors M3 and M4 are respectively provided with drums or Winches 46 and 47 and respectively the motors are igeared to these drums by a reduction gearing 418 for the purposes above described.V The motor M2 also has reduction gearing 41a.

It is quite evident that retracting cables will be' necessary to pull' the main cable 4) offof the recreational or playing area 'aifter the cover -B has been wound on the reel C. To that end the motor M3 is provided with a retrieving cable 5l), windable upon the drum 46 and having aA sheave block connection 51 movable along the cable 4t). The motor M4 is provided with a retrieving cable 52 windable upon the drum 47 and likewise has a block or sheave 53 movable along the cable di); FIG. l shows the relative positions of the retrieving cables Sti and `52 when the main cable is in a straight line and has extended the cover B to protect the desired area.

The collectors E are detailed in IFIGURES 9 and l0 and may be positioned at the most appropriate locations on the playing field or recreational area. Each collector E includes a funnel shaped casing structure 6u having a chamber 1611 therein open at the top and. preferably electrically heated and screened at 62 for the collection of water in the lower part thereof. A oat contact 63 is movably connected as at 64 to the casing structure and rises and falls according to the amount of water in the chamber I61. The iloat 63 acts as a switch arm to engage lower and upper contacts 65 and 66 respectively for purposes to be subsequently described. These contacts and the iloat arm have been diagrammatically shown in FIG. 5 and they are identical for each of the collectors E.

The circuit D is provided with slip rings 76]y and 71, shown in IFIG. 16 as mounted upon the reel shaft 20, respectiyely provided with stationary contacts 72 and 713. The collector ring 711 is `directly connected in conducting relation with the contacts 34 mounted on the reel C and the slip ring 70 is grounded upon the conductor reel C.

Assuming the system is at rest with the cover or tarpauiin B wound uponthe reel C as shown in FIG. 2 and the cables 50 and 52 retracted to the `full line positions shown in FIG. 2, when sufficient rain -water collects in the casing chambers 61 of the collectors E, the iloat switches 63 engage contacts 66and close the electric circuit through a relay switch 180, `as shown in FIG. 5; the circuit then operates .'Warning lights 81 inthe circuit D. A siren SZ is alsolocatedin the circuit D. The delay switch 80 is conventional in structure and includes, as diagrammatically shown in FIG. 5, a rotatable contact arm 115 keyed to a split shaft 116. At the division of the'shalft is located a centrifugal clutch 117 and the shaft 116 remote from that portion to which the arm 1.15 is connected is driven by an actuator motor 118i which is in parallel circuit .with the light :andhorn circuit. Between the clutch 1'17 and the arm 115 is located a speed reducing gear train 1119 and a coil spring 1211. The latter has one `end attached: to fthe switch box and the other end attached tothe portion of the shaft 116 to which the arm 1:15 is connected. Since the motor 1118 is in parallel with the horn andk light circuit the motor 1118/ starts upon closing the horn and light circuit and drives the switch arm 1-15 until it engages the contact 121. This closes the circuit for energizing the coil of relay `83. The motor 4118 keeps running until the iield cover is pulled over the iield and the circuit through motor M1 is broken by cables 32 losing connection with contact 34. The circuit through motor 118 is then broken and spring 1211 which has been wound and under tension during movement of the switch arm 115 returns the switch arm to starting or. off position. The lights and the horn or siren provide warning signals to clear the eld of personnel and operate a determined time while the delay switch 81)- holds the circuit open with respect to a solenoid relay switch 83, shown in FIG. 5. After a time delay the switch 83 closes on contacts 84 and the pull out motor M1 is started through the variable resistance type conventional star-ter box 43a. Cable 40 is pulled out of the storage channels S6, which are shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 and in a larger perspective detail in FIG. 14. The channels 86 permit substantially complete storage of the cable 46 therein. As the cable 40 is wound upon the drum 42 operated by motor M1 it stretches out and ultimately pulls the tarpaulin or cover B o the reel C and onto the field for covering the same. Motors M2, M3 and `M4 are not operating during this phase of the operation, but the retracting cables 50 and 512 are drawn oif their respective winches 46 and 47', the gear reducers acting as drag brakes during this procedure.

`In order toy guide the cable 40 so that it 'will have a true winding on its winch 412, I prefer to provide pulleys or sheaves 89, around one of which the cable 40 will be trained since the cable lil extends directly from the motor M4 to the motor Ml when the cover is off `field. Similarfly, for the motor M3 I may provide guide pulleys or sheaves 8g3 and. for the motor M4 guide pulleys or sheaves 1891).

The motor M1 continues to drive the winch 42 and wind the cable 4l) -thereon until the power circuit to motor M1 is interrupted by the conductor cables 32 winding 01T their respective contact plates 34. Disengagement of the cables 32 from the contacts 34 also shuts olf the warning lights and horn or siren, as will be noted from the generaly circuit D.

As the tarpaulin B starts to unroll a limit switch arrangement is closed in a ready circuit so that when the water level in the collectorsv E lowers to a predetermined degree and the oat switch 63 closes on contact 65 the motor M2 will be energized and star-tto retrieve Athe tarpaulin or cover `B. Generally this limit switch is designated at 90 in FIG. 5 of the drawings. It is spring biased to normally engage contactsy 91 but when the tarpaulin is woundV upon ythe reel C a switch operating army 92a, preferably on the bridle rod 27 of the tarpaulin,

engages the arm of the switch 9) throwing the switch outl of engagement with the contacts 91. During pull out and retrieving cycles the limit switch 90- is disengagedand M4 in operation. The motors M3 andA M4 are wired in series. The cables 511' and 52 are now reeled on their respective Winches 416 and 47. This pulls the main cable 4001i of the field into the storage channels 86. Switch strikers 1110 are provided on the retrieving cables Si) and- 52 which, when the main cable Y46' has been fully retrieved, open spring biased switches 101 and 192, thus stopping fthe ilow of power to the motors M3 and M4. This actuation of the switches 101 and 111-2 also closes the circuits to the all clear indicator lights 164. When the idelay switch is opened the relay switch 83 is releasedand closes the circuit through all clear light 11M-a.

It will be appreciated that the motors M3 and M4 may be placed at different locations than that shown, or more or less or these motors may be provided depending upon the shape of the recreational `area or eld. In the example shown, cable 40 is retracted in right angled relation into the channels l86; the dotted lines in FIG. 2 indicating the various step by step retrieving positions of the cables lStir and 52 as they operate to remove the cable 4t) from the field area after the tarpaulin B has been fully wound upon its reel C.

Referring again to the collectors E shown in IFIG. 9, an overflow outlet line 110` is provided. A iine connected in the bottom of the chamber 6i and designated lili is provided, having a valve control at lllZ, to `bleed oii the Water just sufficiently to enable proper operation of the switch iloat 65. A line M3 may also be provided for inlet of city water for Afair weather control and testing of the system.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herewith shown and described, without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope of the claims.

l claim:

l. In an automatically operated protective system [for covering a ground area, the combination of a reel, a ilexible tarpaulin connected to the reel windable and un- Windable with respect to said reel, electrically actuated motor means connected to the reel for rotating said reel to 'wind the tarpaulin thereon, electrically actuated motor means connected to .the tanpaulin remote from the reel for pulling the tarpaulin from the reel, the last mentioned motor means including a winch and a cable =windable upon said winch which cable is connected to the tarpaulin for .unwinding it from the reel, retrieving cable means connected to the rst mentioned cable, and electrically actuated motor means having Winch means Ithereon having the retrieving cable means connected thereto whereby the irst mentioned cable may be retrieved and moved off a ground area after the tarpaulin has been wound com'- pletely upon said reel.

2. The system described in claim i1 in which Water level actuated oat type switch means is connected in circuit with the aforesaid motor means Which pulls the tarpaulin oif the reel whereby to open and close said circuit, switch means connected to and controlled by the tarpaulin and reel for automatically shutting oft the reel unwinding motor means when the tarpaulin has been unreeled therefrom, and automatically operated switch means actuated by means on the tarpaulin controlled by the complete winding of the tarpaulin upon said reel for automatically setting the retrieving cable motor means in operation as soon as the tarpaulin has been wound upon said reel, and switch means actuated by means on the retrieving cable means to automatically shut off the retrieving motor means when the yfirst cable has been fully retrieved.

3. The system described in claim 2 in which electrically actuated Warning signal means is provided for clearing personnel from the eld in circuit with a-nd @actuated by the said water actuated float type switch means, and a time delay switch means connected with and between the warning signal means and the tarpaulin pull out motor means and in circuit therewith for setting the tarpaulin pull out motor means in operation a predetermined time after the warning signal means has been set into operation.

4. In an automatically operated protective system for covering ground areas, the combination of a reel, means mounting the reel on a horizontal :axis for rotation, a field covering tarpaulin having means connecting it to the reel for unwinding and winding with respect to the reel, electrically actuated motor means for fwinding the tarpaulin upon the reel, a cable unwinding electric motor means positioned remotely 'from the reel, the motor means last mentioned having a winch connected thereto, a cable for winding and unwinding on said Winch connected to the outer end of the tarpaulin, a `first cable retrieving motor positioned adjacent to the reel having connection with the tarpaulin cable close to its connection with said tarpaulin, a second cable retrieving motor positioned remotely from the tirst mentioned cable retrieving motor having a cable connected thereto which in turn is connected at its outer end to the tarpaulin connected cable intermediate the ends of the latter whereby when the tarpaulin is wound upon said reel the cable retrieving motors will both operate to wind their respective cables thereon and pull the tanpaulin connected cable ofl` the ground area to an o-ut of the Way location.

5, An automatically operated protective system for coverin-g yground areas comprising a reel, a flexible tarpaulin mounted upon said reel for winding land unwinding with respect thereto, an electric motor connected to said neel :to 'wind the tarpaulin thereon, an electric motor remotely positioned from the reel having means connected to the free end of the tarpaulin for unwinding the tarpaulin rfrom said reel including a cable connected to the tarpaulin, liquid level dloat actuated switch and circuit means for actuating the motor for unwinding the tarpaulin from the reel, switch and circuit means controlled by the limit of unwinding of the tanpaulin from the reel to cut out the unwinding motor at the time of the comf pletion of unwinding the tarpaulin from the reel, retrieving motor means connected to the cable for pulling it out oi obstructing relation with respect to a lground area ywhen the tarpaulin has been fully wound upon said reel, and switch and circuit means actuated by the dull winding of the tarpaulin upon the reel for shutting olf the motor operating the reel and for turning on the cable retrieving motor means.

`6. The system described in claim 5 in which warning signal means is electrically operated prior to the unwinding of the tarpaulin rfrom the reel for signaling to clear the ground anea and in which operating signal means is provided to indicate that the cable has been retrieved yfrom the ground area.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 974,091 ODonnell Oct. 25, 1910 y1,900,677 Weidhaas et al Mar. 7, 1933 2,177,083 Sykes et al Oct. 24, 1939 2,596,666 Edgar et al May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,099 ,444 July 30 1963 Fred E. Burt,

ears in the above numbered pat- It is hereby certified that error app atent should read as ent requiring correction and that the said Letters P corrected below.

Column l, line 54, for "it" read is column 3,

line 53, for "relay" read delay Signed and sealed this 28th day of January 1964.

(SEAL) Attest: EDWIN L. REYNOLDS ERNEST W. SWIDER Attestug Officer AC ting Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN AN AUTOMATICALLY OPERATED PROTECTIVE SYSTEM FOR COVERING A GROUND AREA, THE COMBINATION OF A REEL, A FLEXIBLE TARPAULIN CONNECTED TO THE REEL WINDABLE AND UNWINDABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID REEL, ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED MOTOR MEANS CONNECTED TO THE REEL FOR ROTATING SAID REEL TO WIND THE TARPAULIN THEREON, ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED MOTOR MEANS CONNECTED TO THE TARPAULIN REMOTE FROM THE REEL FOR PULLING THE TARPAULIN FROM THE REEL, THE LAST MENTIONED MOTOR MEANS INCLUDING A WINCH AND A CABLE WINDABLE UPON SAID WINCH WHICH CABLE IS CONNECTED TO THE TARPAULIN FOR UNWINDING IT FROM THE REEL, RETRIEVING CABLE MEANS CONNECTED TO THE FIRST MENTIONED CABLE, AND ELECTRICALLY ACTUATED MOTOR MEANS HAVING WINCH MEANS THEREON HAVING THE RETRIEVING CABLE MEANS CONNECTED THERETO WHEREBY THE FIRST MENTIONED CABLE MAY BE RETRIEVED AND MOVED OFF A GROUND AREA AFTER THE TARPAULIN HAS BEEN WOUND COMPLETELY UPON SAID REEL. 